At the end of 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Apple's cash and short-term investments were valued at US$8.3 billion,[4] US$10.1 billion,[4] US$18.45 billion,[5] and US$24.490 billion,[6] respectively. As of September 26, 2009, its cash holdings were reported to be US$33.992 billion, increasing to $97 billion at the end of 2011.[7] In October 2012, C|Net reported that Braeburn had US$117.2 billion under management, making it "the world's biggest hedge fund." [8]

In 2012, Wall Street analysts calculated that Apple could earn up to $45.6 billion in its current fiscal year 2012, a record for any American business. By national and international diversions of revenues and many other legal methods, Apple stands to save billions of dollars in taxes.[3]